Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, the Hon David Littleproud MP
Member for Nicholls, the Hon Damien Drum MP
Twenty-six Goulburn Valley locals stand to benefit from the first pilot under the $11 million Future Drought Fund Drought Resilience Leaders program.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said the Australian Government was partnering with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation Limited (ARLF) to create a new generation of community leaders.
"Community leaders and mentors play a critical role in helping people prepare for, and live through, times of drought," Minister Littleproud said.
"The Future Drought Fund Leaders program is about supporting community members to undertake leadership development and community activities that build drought resilience in their local area.
"Together with the ARLF, we'll support people to develop their leadership skills, and put those skills to use helping farmers and agricultural communities prepare for future drought.
"The participants selected for Victoria's Goulburn Valley region are the first of two pilot regions to participate in the program.
Member for Nicholls, Damian Drum said the Goulburn Valley participants represented a good cross section of the region.
"This is a great opportunity for communities in the Goulburn Valley to gain knowledge and skills to become the next generation of leaders," Mr Drum said.
"The pilot will encourage a new culture of information-sharing among agricultural communities on droughts and building resilience in the Goulburn Valley.
"It will help to ensure that future leaders can play an active role in helping to build drought resilience and preparedness."
"Applications for the second pilot region, in Central West Queensland, opened in early August and close on 21 September.
